Friday, January 24, 2014

Few people would have guessed that ten years after being named the International Student Leader of the Year in 2004 – the first Canadian to receive the award – Matthew Keshwah would be ordained a Roman Catholic priest. Even many of the colleagues he worked with in corporate finance for four years were baffled by the news that their peer, with such a promising career, would give it up to serve God.

Matthew Keshwah describes his call to the priesthood as “an invitation from God that has been getting stronger over the years.” He says that his response is that of gratitude and love – offering back to God the life that has been given to him. For him, his desire to lead souls to Christ and to promote life and love rather than simply serve himself, required that he make this change.

Matthew Keshwah has been blessed with role models in his life who exemplified faithfulness and joy whom he hopes to model for others as a priest. Dedicating one’s life to serve God is familiar to him. His mother left the security of her government job to become a parish secretary for 20 years. His father made faith a family priority when he became Roman Catholic after his son’s First Communion. Matthew Keshwah’s love for reading the Bible grew through listening to his grandfather preach as a Presbyterian minister.

He is grateful to his good, faith-filled friends who are of great help to him on his journey. Events such as World Youth Day, and organizations such as Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO) provided opportunities for him to grow in his faith and to meet other young people who shared the same love for God and desire to evangelize others.

His ordination will take place on Saturday, January 25 at 10am in Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica: all are welcome to attend and to receive the new priest's blessing afterwards in the lower chapel.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

The Solemnity of the Epiphany in Christian traditon several Gospel events: the Coming of the Magi, The Baptism of the Lord and the Wedding Feast of Cana--all manifestations of the joy that encountering the Lord Jesus brings those who become thereby his disciples.

The joy of the Season overflows into our celebrations, as in the Mass I celebrated in French at Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica last Sunday morning (the homily for that occasion may be found below along with several photos taken by Jean-Claude Grant) and the reception I held that same afternoon at my residence (some photos taken by Heribert Riesbeck that afternoon are interspersed.

This coming week I will be making my personal retreat, returning to Ottawa on January 21; I invite your prayers for me and promise to remember you in my prayers.

It was announced in Rome today that His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Reverend Christian Riesbeck, CC as Titular Bishop of Tipasa in Numidia and Auxiliary Bishop of Ottawa.
Bishop-elect Riesbeck was born in Montreal on February 7, 1970 to Heribert Riesbeck, a native of Germany and Colette Levesque, originally from Grand Falls, New Brunswick. His elementary schooling took place in Aylmer, Quebec and in Nepean, Ontario and his secondary schooling at St. Pius X High School in Nepean. He earned a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in political science from the University of Ottawa, a Master of Divinity degree from St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto and a Master’s degree and Licentiate in Canon Law from St. Paul’s University in Ottawa.

Ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Marcel Gervais at Notre Dame Cathedral on October 12, 1996, he served for brief periods between 1996 and 1999 at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Kingston, St. Jude’s in Hawkesbury, Our Lady of Divine Love in Pendleton and St. Francis Xavier in Brockville before becoming pastor of Queen of Peace parish in Houston, Texas (1999-2008).

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Pope Francis has rolled out his prayer intentions for 2014—and he’s done it with a twist. The Pope’s first intention, which has long been called the general intention, is now called the universal intention. This universal prayer request addresses a need or category relevant to all people and all cultures, such as, the elderly, respect for women, the media, the unemployed, refugees, and the lonely, a few of the universal intentions of 2014.

Similarly, the name of the second intention has been changed from mission intention to evangelization intention. The new term seeks to get away from the outmoded notion that Christians work to spread the Gospel in far-off lands, the mission fields. The Church is now engaged in a New Evangelization, introducing people everywhere to the person of Jesus Christ, for conversion begins (and never ends) in that relationship between Christ and the believer.

We are living in what seems to be an increasingly post-Christian age, as C.S. Lewis described the culture of the developed nations. Many have fallen away from the faith of their fathers and mothers, so Pope Francis sees prayer as the first step in the New Evangelization. His 2014 intentions for evangelization include vocations to religious life, rediscovery of faith in Europe, service to the poor, and parents. [Thanks to Fr. James Kubicki, S.J., www.apostleshipofprayer.org].

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Pope Francis' UNIVERSAL INTENTION for January 2014: Economic Development: That all may promote authentic economic development that respects the dignity of all peoples.

Pope Francis’ EVANGELIZATION INTENTION for January 2014: Christian Unity: That Christians of diverse denominations may walk toward the unity desired by Christ.

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RIDEAU CANAL SKATEWAY OPENS

FAMILY SKATING ON NEW YEAR'S

Today it was very cold in Ottawa (-20C) with a wind chill to boot, but that didn't stop a large number of skaters from trying out the Rideau Canal Skateway on its first full day of activity (the offical opening was yesterday afternoon).

My niece and nephew Clara and Paul Prendergast and their mother Sonia Struthers and I joined the throng and had a great time chilling out. Walking back with facing into the wind led us to a countdown for the last kilometre and a half in addition to the 5.2 km we skated.

After a festive New Year's supper, we had a family session playing Settlers of Catan, an interesting board game. Clara won both games we finished....